Adrenaline MMA

Tim Sylvia looked better than he has in a long time at Adrenaline MMA IV.

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia made a successful return to the cage Friday night, Sept. 18, in Council Bluffs, Iowa as he defeated rising prospect Jason Riley with a first round TKO.

With three losses in a row, this was a must win fight for “The Maine-iac.” He said prior to the fight that if he could not defeat Riley there was no reason for him to keep competing.

For a time Sylvia considered branching out into professional boxing. However, after a very quick KO loss to elderly ex-boxing champ Ray Mercer, Sylvia realized that trying to start a boxing career at his age was not the smartest move.

Jason Riley (6-1) takes on former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (24-6). How will Sylvia bounce back after three losses in a row?

UFC veterans Tim Sylvia and Houston Alexander return to action tonight at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa as part of “Adrenaline MMA IV.” Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (24-6) takes on Jason Riley (6-1) in the main event. This will be Sylvia’s first fight since his KO loss to pro boxer Ray Mercer.

Tim Sylvia returns to the cage for the first time since his loss to Ray Mercer.

HDNet will feature LIVE coverage of “HDNet Fights Presents: Adrenaline MMA IV,” from the Mid-American Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Friday, September 18 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

In the main event of the evening former UFC heavyweight Champion Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (24-6, with 16 (T)KOs & 2 SUBs) squares off with rising prospect Jason Riley (6-1 with 3 (T)KOs & 2 SUBs) in the heavyweight division. Sylvia, formerly regarded as one of the best fighters in the world is looking to resurrect his career after some devastating losses.

Two Tim Sylvia (24-6) articles in two days — what is the world coming to? It looks as though Sylvia is returning to MMA action, and no it is not with the UFC. Instead, the big guy will climb back into the cage against heavyweight Jason Riley (6-1) as part of Monte Cox’s Adrenaline promotion. Riley confirmed the bout via his Myspace account.

According to nwitimes.com “Adrenaline IV” will likely take place at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Sept. 18. Also expected to fight on the card are UFC veterans Houston Alexander and Jeremy Horn. Although Alexander is still under UFC contract, under special circumstances (like when a fighter has lost three fights in a row), the UFC will allow the fighter to take a fight or two outside the organization in order to get back on track.

The question has long been asked what would happen if an elite level boxer fought a top level MMA fighter. Anderson Silva wants to box Roy Jones Jr. and Nick Diaz has made similar statements.

Ray “Merciless” Mercer used to be an elite level boxer. He won Olympic Gold in 1988 and became the WBO Heavyweight Champion in 1991. Saturday night 48-year-old Ray Mercer fought former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim “The Maniac” Sylvia in an MMA main event at “Adrenaline III” in Birmingham, Ala..

Reports state Sylvia landed a leg kick, then Mercer threw a right hand that connected, and Sylvia fell over as if in slow motion. Mercer followed it up with a couple of punches to the fallen giant.

The professional boxing match that was supposed to take place between Olympic Gold Medalist Ray “Merciless” Mercer (0-0) and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim “The Maniac” Sylvia (24-5) will now take place as a mixed martial arts fight according to a new Sherdog report.

The fight which will headline “Adrenaline III” at the BJCC Arena in Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday, June 13, 2009 has reportedly been deemed “illegal.”

“I got a call from the Pennsylvania commissioner saying that the boxing match is illegal because we weren’t getting regulated by a U.S. commission,” said Adrenaline MMA promoter and owner Monte Cox on Thursday.

Here’s round two between Pat Miletich and Thomas Denny at Adrenaline II which took place last night (Dec. 11, 2008) in Moline, Illinois. The forty year-old, Miletich was coming back after a two year layoff against a much younger “Wildman.” Evidently, ring rust was not a factor for the Croation Sensation as he gave Denny a case of rigor mortis early in round two.

At the :50 second mark of round two, referee Michael Reid stepped in to save the fallen Thomas “The Wildman” Denny from the assault of forty year-old Pat Miletich at Adrenaline II Thursday night in Moline, Illionois.

Early in round one, Miletich landed a powerful left hook that stunned Denny and put the fight on the mat where Denny defended against the Croation Sensation’s ground and pound for the rest of the round. Denny came out aggressively striking in round two only to come in contact with the experience and boxing of a man who has trained more world champions than possibly anyone alive.

It was announced on this week’s edition of Inside MMA that forty year-old, Pat Miletich will be facing Thomas “Wildman” Denny on December 11 in Moline, Illionois on an Adrenaline MMA fight card.

Miletich’s last bout was in 2006 when he fought Renzo Gracie and lost by guillotine choke in an IFL Superfight. Prior to that, Miletich was last seen at UFC 36 in 2002 where he lost to Matt Lindland via TKO.

Fans will remember Thomas Denny’s last bout against Nick Diaz in EliteXC’s CBS Saturday Night Fights back in July where he put on a very exciting slugfest yet gave up a second round TKO to Diaz.